Improvement in buckles



G. W. MoGILL. Buckle.

No. 220,935. jugnl P O-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, D c,

UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE W. MOGILL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN BUCKLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 520,935, dated October :28, 1879; application liled January 9, 1879. i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. McGILL, of New York. city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buckles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in buckles; and it has for its object to furnish an improved strap fastening plate which can be readily applied, and by means of which one end of the buckle-strap may be permanently secured to the buckle-frame with out stitching, and which shall be cheap in construction, and by which the end of the bucklestrap will be more securely held than heretofore, and prevented from injury by the strain upon the clam-pin g devices by which the strap is secured to the fastening-plate; and by which the fastening-prongs will be prevented from straightening and pulling out so as to release the strap.

To this end my invention consists, first, in an improved blank for the fastening-plate, constructed of a plate of metal and having one or more prongs located near one end and one or more slots at the other, said plate being adapted to be folded around a cross-bar of the buckleframe, and the ends clamped together over the end of the buckle-strap, the prongs of one end passing through the strap and the slots of the other end, as more fully hereinafter specified second, in the combination, with the transverse bar of a buckle, of a fasteningplate, constructed of a sheet of metal, having one or more prongs at or near one end and suitable apertures at or near the other, said plate being folded over the cross bar and clamped over the end of the buckle-strap, the prongs at oneend of said plate passing through the end of the strap and the apertures at the other end of said plate, in order to secure the said strap, as more fully hereinafter specified; third, in the CODlblll&tl0l],\Vltll a buckle, of a fastening-plate provided with an aperture for the tongue of the buckle, and with one or more slots at one side and one or more prongs at the other .side of said aperture in line with each other, said plate being adapted to be folded over the cross-bar and to be clamped over the end of the buckle-strap, the prongs at one end of said plate passing through the strap and slot or slots at the other end of said plate, which latter plate serves as a washer for the prong or prongs, as hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a plan of the blank for the fasteningplate. Fig. 2 represents the same bent in form to be secured to the cross-bar of the buckle. Fig. 3 represents a plan view of the buckle with the plate attached to the crossbar and buckle-strap, the lower part of the buckle-frame being broken away to show the fastening. Fig. 4c represents a back view of the buckle, showing the manner in which the strap is held between the jaws of the fastenin g-plate by the prong or prongs of the same. Fig. 5 is a section on line a: m, Fig. 4. Figs. 6, 7, 9, l0, and 13 illustrate modified forms of the fastening-plate. Fig. 8 is a bottom View of the form shown in Fig. 6 applied to an auxiliary crossbar of a buckle. Fig. 11 is a bottom view of the form shown in Fig. 9 applied to the end of abuckle-t'rame. Fig. 12 is a longitudinal section of the form shown in Fig. 9 applied to the tongue-bar of a buckle. Fig. 14 is a perspective View of the form of plate shown in Fig. 13, said plate being fastened to a strap. Fig. 151s a bottom View of same applied to a buckle and strap; and Fig. 16 is a section on line 3 y of Fig. 15.

The letter A represents a buckle-frame of v the ordinary or any approved construction, and B the cross-bar of the same, to which the tongue of the buckle and the fastening-plate are secured. The letter 0 indicates the blank from which said fastening-plate is constructed. Said blank consists of a sheet of metal of proper length and width, having an aperture, D, at or near its center, through which the tongue of the buckle passes when the fastening-plate is in place. At one side of said aperture is formed one or more prongs, E, and on the other side of said aperture one or more slots, F, are formed, through whichthe prongs pass to secure the fastening-plate to the strap.

In applying the fastening-plate the blank is bent or partially folded, as shown in Figs. 2, 7 and 10, being formed in the shape of a cylinder directly at the bend, so as to set neatly around the cross-bar.

The fastening-plate is secured in place by passing the cross-bar into the cylindrical part of the said plate, the tongue of the buckle being passed through the aperture 1). The strap is then placed between the jaws of the fasteningplate, suitable apertures being formed in said strap for the passage of the prong or prongs. The jaws are then closed together upon the strap, and the prong or prongs clinched, so as to clamp the whole together.

In the modifications shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and. 6 but one prong and slot are employed, and in Fig. 6 the prong is set in a reverse direction to that shown in Fig. 1.

In the modification shown in Fig. 8 an auxiliary cross-bar is formed on the buckle-frame, the central aperture in the fastening'plate being omitted in this case. the fastening-plate being placed on the auxiliary cross-bar.

In the modifications shown in Figs. 9, 10, 11, and 12 the blank is formed with two prongs, E E, at one side of the central aperture, and at the other with an aperture, G, and open recess G, the prong E at one end being adapted to fold into the saidrecess G, which is at the other end, and to be clamped therein and clinched, as before stated, while the prong E passes through the aperture (i.

In Fig. 13 the fiistening-plate blank is shown as having a prong, E, at one end and the open recess G at the other, while close to said recess is formed an aperture, (i

When this form of plate is in use the prong E is bent into the recess G, and has its tip inserted into the aperture G as shown in the section Fig. 16 and in views 14 and 15, so that said prong is prevented from catching upon anything or being bent up accidentally.

Figs. 14 and 15 illustrate the application of this form of plate to a buckle and strap.

As thus constructed, it will be perceived that the end of the buckle-strap is clamped and confined between the jaws of the fastening, so as to be supported on each side, one end of the fastening-plate answering as a metallic washer for the prongs of the other end,

thus preventing the tendency of the straightening and pulling out of the prongs, which is liable to occur when the prongs simply .pass through the strap and are clinched directly upon it. Moreover, a neater and more finished article is produced at comparatively little expense, which renders the article more salable.

The several forms of plates shown in the drawings may be adapted to be applied to the tongue-bar, an auxiliary cross-bar, or the end of the buckle, as desired, by forming or omitting the central aperture for the tongue, as circumstances require.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A blank for the fastening-plate of a buckle, constructed with an aperture near its center for the passage of the tongue of the buckle, and having one or more prongs located at one side of and in line with said aperture and one or more corresponding slots on the other side of said aperture, said blank being adapted to be folded around the cross-bar of the buckleframe, and the ends clamped together over the strap, substantially as described.

2. In combination with the bar of a buckle, a fastening-plate having one or more prongs struck therefrom near one of its ends, and having one or more apertures at or near its other end, said plate being adapted to be folded over the bar of a buckle, with its ends clamped over the strap, and secured thereto by passing the pron gor prongs through the strap and the apertures in the plate, and

then bending said prong or prongs, for compressing and confining the plate and strap together, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE W. MCGILL.

'i t nesses:

JAMES L. Noaars, ALBERT ll. NORRIS. 

